If it were summer now, would you be worried about dry legs? Probably not. For many of us, this is purely a winter problem. Why? Let's get to the bottom of the causes before we come to a guide for delicate skin on your legs - with an SOS tip!
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Instructions: How to get rid of dry skin on your legs
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
Cracked skin on the legs - a winter problem
In the summer we constantly apply sunscreen: before the sun, after the sun, after shaving, before going out. Short dresses and shorts are a constant reminder to take care of our legs. In winter it's "out of sight, out of mind". At colder temperatures, the legs disappear in long clothes and are quickly forgotten. At least until the skin on the legs has turned into graters. That often doesn't take long at all. After all, not only the neglected treatment plays against this skin area.
Why your legs get dry in winter
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The skin is less protected
Fat protects against drying out. Unfortunately, the skin makes less of it when it's cold. It therefore has a less stable protective layer that protects it from moisture loss. At the same time, the heating air pulls at her. With this combination, the skin dries out faster. -
We drink less
The thirst decreases when it is cold. Even good water drinkers forget one or two drinking breaks in winter. However, most of the moisture in the skin comes from within. That's why drinking less is one of the main causes of dry skin. -
Winter blues
The dark time depresses the mood. Shorter days, overcast skies, sunshine is rare now. Many people suffer from a real winter depression during this time. But overall we are now more aware of the burdens. And Continuous stress has disastrous effects on your skin. -
We eat less healthily
The low mood is often accompanied by cravings. In winter, we usually eat a less balanced diet. The appetite for crunchy salad and fresh fruit gives way to sugary temptations. Above all, we consume fewer vitamins. But they are extremely important for healthy skin. They protect against cell damage and promote regeneration. -
More vices
mulled wine and sparkling wine on the holidays - in the cozy season, more alcohol traditionally flows. Especially during the lock-down edition of winter. And alcohol dehydrates. That leads to the hangover. But it also affects the skin. Smoking is even worse. Smoker's skin stores less moisture per se. In addition, fewer nutrients reach the skin through the narrowed blood vessels1.
☹️ Anyone who smokes a pack a day looks 10 years older on average.
Why creams alone don't help against dry legs
Of course, as soon as the skin on the legs feels brittle and scaly, we think about care again. Unfortunately, you can't just make up for it by applying extra cream now. That often becomes the problem. The skin is already damaged. Overloading her with products will finish her off. She may react irritably. The legs can even itch or become red.
Even with the wrong products, you do more damage than help Lotions with a high water content are not the care that dry legs need in winter. Now the skin needs more fat. Body lotions also contain emulsifiers, which remove additional fat from the skin the next time you shower. Instead, rely on oil-based care without emulsifiers and other ingredients that dry out the skin even more.
Instructions: How to get rid of dry skin on your legs
So what really helps against rough skin on the legs? A holistic routine. It is best to reserve a few minutes for your care ritual in the morning. And also keep an eye on everyday things that affect your skin health. Just do a small cure over the next 4-6 weeks in which you consistently implement the following points. By the way, that's how long it takes us to acquire new habits.
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Dry brushing for two minutes
A brush massage stimulates regeneration. With a massage glove, you run first the legs and then the arms towards the heart and then in a circle over the abdomen and back. The effect is huge: the massage smoothes the skin and improves its supply of nutrients.
🌟 Tip: Read our detailed instructions for dry brushing with the massage glove !
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Clean gently
Then take a lukewarm shower with a gentle cleaning product. Avoid Sodium Laureth Sulfate. They are the most common surfactants in conventional shower gels, but are extremely drying. It is better to choose shower gels (liquid or solid) that are genuine natural cosmetics. They contain well-tolerated surfactants based on coconut or sugar.
💡 By the way: You only need to soap yourself where it's dirty. You can usually disregard the shins here.
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Care for your skin with oil
Apply body oil to the still damp skin. Perfect for this: The FIVE Shea Cream is super nourishing and has a long-lasting effect. It comes as a spill-free balm and melts into the skin when applied. It protects your legs from wind and cold, which you also feel through your clothing. I can recommend apricot kernel oil to fans of pure oils. It smoothes and soothes rough skin.
Goodbye to dry legs!
Shea butter, jojoba oil and argan oil: these are the super caring little helpers combined in our FIVE Shea Cream for dry, rough and brittle skin.
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Drink enough
Water is mainly replenished from the inside. Therefore, make sure to drink plenty of fluids even in winter. If you can't get pure water down at all, spritzer or tea is of course also possible. It is best to put a pot at your workplace - even in the home office.If you see them all the time, you won't forget to drink
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A balanced diet
External care is not enough. You also need to provide your skin with enough nutrients through food. Lots of vegetables, nuts, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids help to prevent dry skin. Linseed oil is an excellent supplier of this fat. Consume two tablespoons of it every day. For example, you can mix linseed oil with your muesli or use it to refine salads and vegetables.
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Relax
Skin problems can stress you out. But this is not a one-way street. At the same time, lack of sleep and stress make skin problems worse. So take your time to come down. And regularly. Whether it's breathing exercises, long walks, yoga or knitting, do it! Find rituals that help you to calm down, especially in the evenings. And make sure you get enough sleep. These relaxation phases are extremely important for your body.
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Reduce skin stressors
You can already guess what's coming: Less alcohol and preferably no smoking at all. Beautiful, smooth legs and no longer smell of cigarettes? It's actually a win-win situation. Your skin will thank you.
SOS tip against rough, brittle legs
You can already sand down furniture with your shins? Then they need help immediately. For cases of hardship there is Urea. Your body produces this urea itself. It is a natural component of the skin's NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor). There it binds water due to its strong hygroscopic properties. In addition, urea has a keratolytic effect: it promotes natural desquamation during skin renewal. That's why urea makes brittle legs smooth again.
☝️ By the way: Cosmetic urea is produced chemically. That is why urea is not permitted in natural cosmetics, although it is also found in the skin. So you only find it in conventional or medical skin care.
So here is my final SOS tip for grater legs: Use UreaRepair Plus with 30% urea from Eucerin for two weeks. The dose is extremely high and helps especially on calloused skin areas such as knees, heels or elbows. Because it promotes desquamation so strongly, it is only suitable for short-term use. As soon as the skin area is smooth again, you should switch back to your normal oil care.
Prevent dry legs in winter
You cannot always completely avoid dry skin and calluses. They are to a certain extent a matter of assessment. Sometimes a drought surprises you too. Maybe you've been more stressed than you care to admit. Or maybe your skin is going through a change. Then it's good to have a contingency plan.
However, it is even better to prevent dry skin as much as possible. This works with the above instructions, i.e. dry brushing, gently cleaning, caring for with oil, drinking enough and eating a balanced diet and reducing stress, including stressors for the skin. These tips will make your legs smooth as a bobsleigh track.
Your Anna
